Breathing regulator



y 1954 J. w. ARPIN BREATHING REGULATOR 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 4, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

July 6, 1954 i J. w. ARPIN BREATHING REGULATOR 2 sheets sheet 2 Filed Aug. 4, 1953 INVENTOR.

the water pressure. when the diaphragm is forced back by the air scribed.

- tral opening 3 1.

sure of more than approximately 2000 pounds per square inch. A strap or harness I I serves to connect the cylinders to the body of the user. A valve l2 permits the air to be fed to the regulator is. The regulator is provided with an intake pipe l4 and exhaust pipe l5. A corrugated rubber tube ll extends from the intake pipe to the exhaust pipe and is formed with a central breathing inlet provided with a, mouthpiece [3. The unit isgenerally .usedby strapping the cylinders to the back of the wearer so that the regulator I3 rests at the back of the neck. The tube ll encircles the neck with the mouthpiece lB held into th mouth. As is conventional, a-mask coverin both the eyes and the nose is worn.

Referring to Figure 3, the regulator [3 may be in the form of a flat cylinder and comprises a metal housing [9 which is formed with a lower chamber and an upper chamber 2|. A cover 22 caps the upper chamber 2! and clamps a rubber diaphragm 23 against a flange of the casing 19, such diaphragm separating and defining the upper and lower chambers. reinforced at its center with a metal disk 24, the edges of the diaphragm being free to respond to pressure thereagainst from either direction.

When the device is used for underwater breathing, the water enters opening 25 of the cover 22 and acts upon the diaphragm 23 so as to depress "it downwardly from the normal, planar position shown in FigureB.

Such downward depression of the diaphragm 23 in response to the water pressure is employed to actuate a valve which serves to restore the diaphragm to its normal, planar position by admitting air under pressure to the chamber 20, such air opposing the force of The valve is thus closed pressure. Accordingly, the air thus introduced into the chamber 20 will exactly equal the water pressure bearing against the outer face of diaphragm 23. Such valve action will now be de- Valve I2 is initially opened to introduce the air under pressure to the regulator through the air inlet member 38. Airinlet member is screwed to housing [9 and is formed with a cen- Its upper face is formed with an annular depression 32 which serves as a high pressure chamber. Itis connected by passage 33 to the opening 31.

of which communicate with the outlet passage 35. Such outlet passage 35, as will be hereinafter described, feeds the compressed air to the lungs of the user. Air inlet member 33 is'suitably connected to the valve fittings of the tanks ID by a clamp 33 which is secured to a flange 3'! of the member 35.

Disposed flatly over the top face of air inlet member 30 is a control diaphragm 40. Diaphragm 4G is fabricated of rubber or the like and is formed with a small opening 4|. Purely as an example, it has been found that an opening of .020" in diameter is satisfactory for the intended purposes as will be hereinafter described.

Seated upon diaphragm 40 is a valve seat member 42 which is formed with a central post 43. The bottom face of member 42 is formed with circular depression 44. Depression provides an upper high pressure chamber in respect to chamber 32, being separated therefrom by diaphragm 43 and communicating therewith through opening 4!. Disposed within chamber 44 is a screen 45 which is thin enough to permit the diaphragm.

The diaphragm is adjustable nut 51.

4 48 to rise into chamber 44 but without blocking off the central opening of post 43 as will be hereinafter described.

Post 43 is formed with a central opening 50 which communicates with chamber 44. Central opening 55 continues into the top face 5! of post 43, such top face 5| serving as a valve seat for valve cap 52. Valve cap 52 is formed with a skirt 53 which slidably embraces stem 43. Skirt 53 is formed with an outlet hole 54 which, in one position of the valve, communicates with central opening 53 and admits high pressure air into upper chamber 29. The valve 52 is normally urged into closing position against top face 5| by a spring 55. Member 42 is further formed with an upper collar 55 which threadedly receives an Nut 57 bear against and compresses spring 55 so as to accordingly adjust the tension of the valve 52 against its seat, i. e. top face 5! of post 43. It will be evident that by screwing nut 5'! inwardly, the normal valve closing tension may be increased and vice versa.

A lever 50 is provided with'an end ring 5| which embraces the skirt 53 so as to be capable of lifting the valve 52 against the action of spring 55. Ring 5! is raised as illustrated by the broken lines of Figures 3 and 4 and it bears against the underside of flange 62 of valve 52. Accordingly, depression of the extreme end 63 of lever 50 causes the ring iii to rise thereby lifting the valve 52 from its seat 5 I. This brings the openings 55 and 54 into communication so that compressed air may enter the chamber 20 and act against the underside of diaphragm 23 in opposition to the water pressure.

As will be hereinafter shown, diaphragm 23 responds to the users inhalations so as to open the valve and feed air through the intake pipe M. The tube [1 further provides an exhaust passage which is connected to exhaust pipe [5. Referring to Figure 2, exhaust pipe i5 is formed with a discharge outlet 19 to which is secured an exhaust valve H. Exhaust valve "H is of the rubber flapper type which is normally closed as illustrated in Figure 3 but which opens as air is forced therethrough.

The exhaust valve H is maintained in an exhaust chamber E2 which is distinct from the main diaphragm chambers 25 and 2!. Pursuant to the principles of my invention as hereinafter described, the exhaust valve ll maybe disposed at any distance from the diaphragm 23 since the water pressure to which it is subjected will substantially always be at least that of the diaphragm. 23. In effecting this result, the chamber i2 is formed with an outlet 13 which, in the form shown, is substantially at the level of cover 22. It is this outlet 13 which effects the results mentioned in preventing undue loss of waste of air. while facilitating breathing by the user. Thus, the outlet l3 insures that the exhaust valve will be subjected to water pressure which is always at least that of the diaphragm 23 as long as the outlet i3 is disposed outwardly of the distance or spacing between the exhaust valve H and the diaphragm 23, such outward disposition being in the direction'of diaphragm 23.

The operation of the regulator will now be described:

Assuming that the device is in operation under water, the diaphragm 23 is first depressed downwardly by the water pressure and, through lever 56, lifts the valve 52. 7 Air from the tank has filled opening 31, passage 33, lower chamber 32 and opening 55 through diaphragm opening 4|.

oing :to the lungs of -the user.

-However, no flow of air has thus "far been permitted "since 'tne '-valve b2 s fbe'en cl'o'sed posit-ion. When the valve *52 lifted by ithe lever iithe compressed air -is permitted to flow through the passages above mentioned :and through opening 54 .into 'cha'mber 20. Air icon- -tro'l 'h'ole or opening 50 =larger -in diameter ithan opening 4!. For example, when the opening n is .02 in diameter as above mentionedflthe "'(3OIltl'01-- Openl ng :56 may he 1630" in diameter. This "produces 'a lower :pressure :in :ehamber :44 than' in chamber 3 2 and Eth'e diaphragm '45} fb'ecomes displaced lby rising Cor il'i fting accordingly. llhis action 515 illustrated Figure 4 't-where fit will be inote'd =th'at1the -diaphragm has risen a'lth'oug'hlit may be if-u'rther noted :that it does not block ioil the sic'ontrol iopening because of the presen'ce -::o'f :screen 45. The 'li'ftin'g of diaphragm 14B permitsith'eihigh:ipressure .air irom -pa'ssa'ge 3:3 and ilowerrcharnber 1.32 to enter :the plural :passages 1.64 :and the zmain breathing passage :Such ra-ir is admitted into the :.-intake ;pipe M and is breathedilby .the (user through the It-will be understood that .th'e air :in chamber 5: 20 is ofxjust-enoughpressure to offset the-water :pressure for the ireasonsabove described. :Accordingly, "when the user inhales .air from the gpipe {I113 and "breathing .pipe l 'l ;.such air is :of a

pressure which offsets the water .pressure .and i the 're'gulator @therefor :provides :the correct lair -.pressure-for-xanydepth.

Before each inhalation thediaphragms 2'3 and "-40 I are in their :normal,, planarstate. When the user :inhales, he draws :air from chamber @253 "through passages 15 and;;3-5. This lowering of air:;-pressure inw'chamber B-ii causes the diaphragm #23 to -defiect downwardly *pursuant to thehigher water pressure. The valveithereupon opens and .the diaphragmrfi is Iiftedpursuant to the action above described and Fair is :supplied -"from :the :source thereof through the,passages 34 and open- The .air will always equal the vwater pressure zzat anyparticular depth since otherwise the air will flow 'tively to operate 'the 'valve mechanism. "It will be further noted that the valve action is "ex- 'tremely simpie an'd'employs'a'minimum' of parts while nevertheless cdntrdlling the great force represented by the compressed air.

iA'further advantage of the constructionabove described, is the fact that at no time during normal operation of the device will the eiihaust valve H be at such a lower degree of pressure than the diaphragm 23 as to spontaneously cause air to be drawn therethrough and wasted. Thus, when the regulator is in its normal position illustrated in Figure 3, the exhaust valve 1| is far below the diaphragm 23 so that'there will be no spontaneous sucking of air through the exhaust valve. It will be noted that in the position of Figure 1, when air is exhausted through valve II, it will merely appear as bubbles which float out of the opening 13 as indicated by the arrows. Chamber 12 will be full of water at this time 'when a--diver-is..swimming on his back orwhen irom chamber i2.

iheis diving or .swimming :downwardly, it -might first appear that the exhaust valve "H: would then be at lowerpressure than that of diaphragm '23 and would cause 'air to .bedrawn therethrough .and -wasted. However, .as the diver'exhalesjthe "exhaled -air =Wil1 tend-to rise and will iSO'OIll'fill the chamber 12. This would displace itheiwa'ter The air will then serve as 1a buffer between the outside water and thevalve 11 so that the pressure acting upon the .valve :H

istha't represente'ditby the level of opening l3. It willibe observed that the level of opening :73 is lower than :that of diaphragm 23 when the device is inverted. Accordingly, whether 'the device is in its normal position as .illustratedxin Figure 3 .orif it -.is:,c'0mpletely "reversed, :thepressure acting against the exhaust valve :1! is .always greater than that acting against the diaphragm 523. This prevents any'waste of'breathable air. This condition further allows the -:spring55 to be adjusted torespond .to the 'min- .imumrdrop in pressure of chamber 2!]. For example; it L'hasbeen .found that .a two pound spring .nlayfibe used .with'the control holes of the above 'speciiied diameters.

As .above stated, the reason why such a light spring :maytbe'used is that the proximity of the exhaust valve ltto the dia- .phragmtsisno longera limiting factor on the sensitivity of the device when constructed according to theprinciples of my invention.

.The valve :52 and valve .seattmember 46 may :well .be formed of 't plastic material such a as nylon or polyethylene.

The device .01" the. principal components there- ..of may be used in environments other than underwater, in any media wherein a breathing demand regulator may be required.

What. is claimed is:

1. :Ina vbreathing :device comprising a. housing,

a chamber in said housing, a first diaphragm :mountedin said chamber, said diaphragm being flexibleand being exposed to the surrounding lfluidmedia throughsaidhousing whereby said diaphragm :may be deflected by the pressure of the"surroundingifluid media, an air inlet member on .sai'dl housing, andiineans including; a .lever'responsive. to saiddeflection foradmitting air under ddrsssurelthrough said airinlet member into said chaznber-soasitorestore the diaphragmto a normal, .undefiected position, anroutlet passage :on

said hOllSlIlgIfOl delivering.compressedair from .saidinlet member to :thelungs of a user, :said

.means including a control diaphragm :and .an

inlet member disposed below said control diaphragm and adapted to introduce compressed .air .to the undersideof said control diaphragm, a .lower 'chamber formed. in said air inlet :.member directly below saidcontrolv diaphragm, anIair outlet formed in said air inlet member and communicating with said outlet passage, said con trol diaphragm normally closing said air outlet from said lower chamber, said control diaphragm being formed with an opening therethrough communicating with said lower chamber, said means further including a valve post member, a valve cap and a valve spring, said valve post member having a chamber in the bottom face thereof disposed over said control diaphragm so that said bottom face chamber constitutes an upper chamber for said control diaphragm, said valve post member having a central opening formed therethrough adapted to communicate with said first named housing chamber when said first named diaphragm is deflected, said post central opening communicating with said upper chamber and said control diaphragm opening, said valve cap normally closing said valve post opening from said first named housing chamber, and said valve spring acting against said valve cap for normally closing said valve post opening, the deflection of said first named diaphragm actuating said lever so as to displace said valve cap against the action of said spring, a further air passage being formed between said outlet passage and said first named housing chamber.

2. An article according to claim 1 and wherein said control diaphragm opening is of lesser diameter than said valve post central opening whereby air flowing through said openings will tend to elevate said control diaphragm into said upper chamber so as to establish communication between said air inlet member and said outlet passage.

3. In a breathing regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm in said housing, said diaphragm being flexible and being exposed to the surrounding fluid media through said housing whereby said diaphragm may be deflected by the pressure of surrounding fluid media, and means including an inlet member responsive to said deflection to admit air under pressure through said inlet member and into said housing, outlet passage means including a discharge outlet on said housing for exhausting exhalations into said surrounding media, an exhaust valve connected to said discharge outlet, an exhaust chamber secured to said housing and in which said exhaust valve is disposed, said exhaust valve being spaced from said diaphragm, and said exhaust chamber being formed with an air outlet which is outside of the spacing between said diaphragm and said exhaust valve in the direction of said diaphragm and which is at least at the level of said diaphragm and said exhaust chamber being otherwise totally enclosed.

4. In a breathing regulator comprising a nousing, a diaphragm in said housing, said diaphragm being flexible and being exposed to the surrounding fluid media through said housing whereby said diaphragm may be deflected by the pressure of surrounding fluid media, and means including an inlet member responsive to said deflection to admit air under pressure through said inlet member and into said housing, outlet passage means including a discharge outlet on said housing for exhausting exhalations into said surrounding media, an exhaust valve connected to said discharge outlet, an exhaust chamber secured to said housing and in which said exhaust valve is disposed, said exhaust chamber being formed with an outlet which is on an opposite side of said diaphragm from said exhaust valve and being otherwise totally enclosed.

5. In a breathing regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm in said housing, said diaphragm being flexible and being exposed to the surrounding fluid media through said housing whereby said diaphragm may be deflected by the pressure of surrounding fluid media, and means including an inlet member responsive to said deflection to admit air under pressure through said inlet member and into said housing, outlet passage means including a discharge outlet on said housing for exhausting exhalations into said surrounding media, an exhaust valve connected to said discharge outlet, an exhaust chamber secured to said housing and in which said exhaust valve is disposed, said exhaust valve being normally closed and adapted to be opened by the exhalations of the user, said exhaust valve being vertically spaced from said diaphragm in a normal position of said housing, said exhaust chamber being formed with a single outlet which is vertically spaced from said diaphragm in an opposite direction from said exhaust valve.

6. An article according to claim 5 and wherein said exhaust chamber outlet is also laterally spaced from said diaphragm.

7. In a breathing regulator comprising a housing, a diaphragm in said housing, said diaphragm being flexible and being exposed to the surrounding fluid media through said housing whereby said diaphragm may be deflected by the pressure of said surrounding fluid media, and means including an inlet member responsive to said deflection to admit air under pressure through said inlet member and into said housing outlet passage means including a discharge outlet on said housing for exhausting exhalations into said surrounding media, an exhaust valve connected to said discharge outlet, an exhaust chamber secured to said housing and in which said exhaust valve is disposed, said exhaust valve being vertically spaced from said diaphragm, and said exhaust chamber being formed with an air outlet which is at least at the vertical level of said diaphragm when the regulator is in a position where the diaphragm is at a higher vertical level than said exhaust valve, and said exhaust chamber being otherwise totally enclosed below the vertical level of said air outlet and below the vertical level of said diaphragm.

References Cited in the flle of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Norway Jan. 23, 1939 

